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"We have 130 people signed up for the world record attempt but we have a huge push going on at the moment, trying to get more people to take part.

"I'm targeting all electric guitarists, I've had a few signed up who are directly affected. I've even had one sign up who has a stage four glioblastoma.

"He's just recently put his wedding forward and he's managed to have a short honeymoon in between chemo treatments. As I said, it doesn't discriminate."

David Pile is hoping to break a world record at Ealing Blues Festival

Tickets to the world record attempt cost £40 ahead of the day, with the ticket including a new Blackstar Fly 3 micro amplifier, a t-shirt and free day entry to the festival.

Mr Pile, who has played guitar for 42 years, added: "I know David Bowie's Heroes was not written about [cancer], but I just thought all these people paying to do this, they are the heroes.

"I have a David Bowie tribute band lined up to play the song for everyone to play along to, they're called Thin White Duke, based in south London."

Organisers hope around 450 guitarists will take part in the event

Michael Thelwall, from Brain Tumour Research, added: “Dave’s world record attempt is going to be spectacular and I hope it will raise awareness of how underfunded research into the disease is.

“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer – and less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers.